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Team Coverage: Deadly wreck

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GONZALES - State Police said a Reserve teen was driving under the influence of narcotics when he hit a car full of Dutchtown High School students Tuesday morning, killing one of them.

Trooper Jared Sandifer said 19-year-old Dwight Perriloux was charged with DWI, vehicular homicide, vehicular injuring and reckless operation in the wreck on LA Highway 74 east of I-10.

Investigators said 15-year-old Claire Carline of Prairieville died in the wreck, and her two sisters who were in the car with her were moderately injured. Troopers said Carline was in the back seat of the car Perriloux hit and was not wearing her seat belt properly, while her sisters were properly restrained.

State Police said around 7 a.m. Perriloux was heading east on Hwy 74 when Carline's 17-year-old sister was driving the three Dutchtown students to school eastbound. Troopers said Perriloux came upon stopped traffic at the I-10 overpass, and they believe he swerved into the westbound lanes of travel to avoid hitting the other vehicles. When he did so, troopers said Perriloux hit the Carlines' vehicle head-on.

EMS took Perrilloux to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Gonzales with moderate injuries. Troopers took a toxicology sample him and also said they believe he was impaired at the time of the wreck. After being released from the hospital Perrilloux was booked into the Ascension Parish Jail.

This crash remains under investigation, and Troopers ask that anyone that may have witnessed the crash please contact Louisiana State Police Troop A at 225-754-8500 or their local law enforcement agency.